Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-05-06
DEATH OF ANOTHER PIONEER.

On Saturday, April 30, 1887, Schuyler
oil Mr.. VIM. shepler, his son-in-iow, In
the city OF Dayton, o. There his suffer
ings were asn,sged, and in his conflict
with the grim messenger, he wNs cheered
and oomforted by the tender care of his
loving daughters. His remains were
brought TO Perrysbarg on Sabbath morn
ing, attended by members of the family,
and the home which Tor near hall cen
lury he had loved so well received him
for the last time. IL the afternoon Of the
day the funeral services were performed by
the Rev. ~. A. Adams, who for nearly a
quarter OF century had been acquainted
with him, the Rev. q. B. Willsie assisting
Al the close of the services the remains
were taken to the Fort Meigs Cemetery,
there 10 rest until the final ccnsummation
of all things earthly.
The deceased has been so closely and
actively identified with the public works
Of Wood and adjoining counties, which
have done 80 much by way Of making pos
sihle the grand results that are now appar-
ent, that his memory and his work are EN-
titled to more than passing notice.
The deceased was born in the village of
Westeroo, Albany county, N. Y, on the
29ih oil March, 1911, having at the time
Of death passed his 76th birthday, When
Gva al 4 20 Fatl, tal L. "a,
mother with nine children In narrow cir
cu,nstances, 10 engage in the struggle Of
life. The severe discipline resulting
therefrom developed in The deceased those
charact eristics of self reliance and of phys.
zeal energy which were exhibited in fu-
ture operations as n contractor in the con
sructiOn OF public improvements for de.
veloping the resources of the Black Swamp
region in the early stages of its history.
His early education was necessarily linn
tied by his application to labor in the
struggle OF life, aud the absence of educa-
tional advantages which now exist. To
these disadvantages may be attributed
many of the losses which met him in his
later business operations. Al an early age
lie learned the trade of carpenter and
Joiner, and after working few years in
Troy and Lockport, N. Y, in 1887 he To-
Gated in Perrysburg, which has from that
date been his home.
At that time the Maumee Valley was
covered by dense growth OF timber, the
level and marslIy surface OF the land be-
ing To those whu were immigrating 10 the
west, source of terror. In order to make
this wealth of lands and VI timber nvuila.
Bile and productive its drainage and the
establishment of highways for travel were
an absolute necessity. Tie deceased, to.
ge,her with John Mcmahon, Colllster Has
kins and other cear-headed and energetic
men OF that early day, took hold of these
much needed improvements with nm un~
tlinching energy which knew no failure.
and in their conflict with financial diff
culties, miasmalic diseases and the chilling
influences thrown around them by many OF
their less sagacious fellow citizens, they
succeeded IN establishing and constructing
the main thoroughfares OF the comfy, that
from Perryshurg TO Findlay, and the Nc
Cutchlnville pike on a line with Fostora.
The opening up OF these routes North and
South were The primary steps in establish
ing the system OF drainage and it's road
WAYS which since have aided so much IN
the development of resources which now
place Wood county In the van of pro.
ductive enterprise and of commercial,
wealth. The Fndlay road was constructed
under the supervision of the deceased, and
the McCuchinvile mainly so. On the
| Erie & Miami canal he also became n con-
tractor, thus aiding in the completion OF
what then was man artery of CONNER
cial enterprise to the city OF Toledo,
The Junction Railway from Millbury to
the Maumee river WAS also graded. IT,
cattle guards ard cuiverls, together with
the high embankment and the stone abut-
ments at The crossing OF the Manmee river
were constructed by him. His next enter.
|
& Van Lue railway, which ultimately
formed part of the "0d Mad River
road, and is now controlled by l. B. & w.
| The difficulties encountered in this enter
prise were such as brought on hIm fnan-
cIal ruin.
In the early periol OF his residence in
Perrysburg he tpok an active part in adj
vanuing lis local interest. He earnestly
60 operated with The late Francis Hoi-
lenheck, and other prominent friends
Of education in the establishment of the
Perrysburg Union Schools. and the adopt.
ion OF II higher, aud more comprehensive
system of public instruction, although his
large business transactions look him much
from home, he mtintlned his relations Ia
The schools as a member Of the Board of
i lucalion, for the period Of eight years.
Our Union School huilding, erected by
him, WIS the second of It's class built in
this Stale.
BY contract with the Perrysbnrg corpo-
ration he enlarged. aud reconstructed the
perrysburg Hydraulic canal.
The deceased WAS twice married, His
first wife native Of Lpckport n. Y, II
bright, earnest and kind hearted woman,
died over twenty years ago, five children
| now I'VE as lhe run inns marriage. HIS
second marriage was with Mrs. Gates, n
lady Of Maumee City, who with their son
an only child still survives.
Such are the main features Of the life
recordof this friendly and kind hearted
man. In le time of his prosperity, when
surrounded by friends he was generous to
a fault. When the dark shadow OF ndver-
sity cove red him, the sweet consciousness
of good which lie had done for others
compensated IN measure for the absence Of
their friendly sympathy.
His conflict in life has now ended. The
pioneer llas finished hiA wo rk. His re-
cord of good, and Of useful acts performed
still survive him. His faults are buried in
the grave. He rests in peace.
N. II. @.